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news
Path in Blackheath (via StreetView).jpgLondon cyclist says 'invisible' retractable dog lead stretched across path cut through his clothing and injured him
A London cyclist has written to Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greenwich and Lewisham councils about the use of retractable dog leads. Robert Perkins suffered slashes to his face, back and clothes as a result of an ‘almost invisible’ lead stretched across a path in Blackheath.
London News Online reports that Perkins was cycling along a path near the pond on Prince of Wales Road at around 8pm on June 12 when the incident happened.
“Travelling south on my bicycle, I was completely unaware that the dog leash was stretching across the path until colliding with it. The friction of the moving cord cut through my clothing and the cord jumped to my face causing the injuries. The dog’s owner was also injured by the leash.”
He added: “The leash was so thin it was almost invisible and it was so long, both the woman and her dog were both some distance from the path. I went to the hospital for treatment but did not need stitches – I am just hoping the slashes will heal up without too much scarring.”
Perkins wants to highlight the potential hazard of people using retractable leads across pathways in open spaces.
“I am likely not the first cyclist that has been involved in such an incident, and fear I will not be the last. While I realise that the green spaces must be shared by many users, my understanding is that dog owners are legally obliged to keep their dogs under control at all times in public – something which is effectively impossible with the use of these types of leads.”
Nicholas Sanderson, senior policy officer at Sustrans, walking and cycling charity, said: “We’re very sorry to hear that Mr Perkins was badly hurt while cycling on the path on Blackheath. Shared-use paths like this provide valuable spaces to travel, free of traffic. Sharing the space requires everyone, including walkers and cyclists, to use paths carefully and to be mindful of others.”
He added: “With more people travelling around London as the city grows, it’s vital the mayor and local councils continue to expand the network of safe cycle routes to support the growing number of Londoners travelling by bike.”
In 2015, a man knocked off his bike by an out-of-control dog on a retractable lead won a £65,000 payout from the dog’s owner.
Anthony Steele had suffered a fractured skull when the dog leapt into his path while he was training for a Coast to Coast to event in Heysham in 2012.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- Rendel Harris 9 hours 17 min ago
Worth noting as not mentioned above, the bike rider could only undertake (perfectly legally) the refuse lorry driver because the latter was in the...
- mattw 9 hours 29 min ago
One further thought. Does an audible tap on the window as the vehicle does its close pass dodge any of this garbage by demonsrating how close it was?
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Yes, I found cheap cycling tools and clothes on aliexpress that are fine, TPU tubes quality slightly more random, aftermarket spare parts for...
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Obviously everyone in cars, usually a single person is going about their very very serious and important business.
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37 comments
I appreciate where you're coming from and rescue dogs can be very traumatised from improper care and training. I'd still prefer to use a short lead though, as if the dog gets spooked, it's a lot easier to immediately control a dog on a short lead than a long one.
yep not going to disagree, Bruce spends 95% of his time on a standard lead that is actually attached to me to stop him ripping it out of my hand. The extender is for if I'm on the beach or in a field so he can have a bit of a run - I actually prefer a very long non- retracting horse lunge line - and there's no way anyone could miss that, but he tends to tie me in knots with that
haha, my brother has burns above his ankles from bastard dogs on long lines that are practically untrainable. Bloody lines get cameras in mud, ends up all over your trousers.
It's not the leads that are the problem, or dogs, it's the idiots in control of them.
That said, I've had to hurdle a few dopey dogs in the past, not sure I could have bunny-hopped them!
Those things are a bloody menace. I regularly cycle on park roads and I have learned to look out for the owners holding them. Most people are careful, but there are always the odd ones. The worst one I have seen was about 5mm thick and pale blue/grey. It had a middle-aged lady on one end and a small King Charles spaniel on the other. I saw it at the last moment and managed to stop just touching it. I pointed out to her that I am a responsible and slow moving pensioner and managed to stop, whereas a fast moving teenager might well have hit the lead and probably broken her dogs neck.
I hate those extendable leads. The dog is not under control and IMO a dog on an extendable lead should be treated as being off the lead.
totally agree
Cyclist going too fast on shared path, is what some will say.
These leads are ridiculous and I see them on the roads. Person holding lead, 3m of lead on a 1.5m wide path. How does this stop stupid dog from running into the road? I feel sorry for the dogs.
Dog owner response on shared path is likely to be that it is on a lead and to blame the victim while being totally unaware of their own antisocial behaviour.
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